Yeday Methodist Church - Yeday, Thailand
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 20° 17.659 E 099° 40.819
47Q E 571032 N 2244197
Far into the hills of northern Thailand near the border with Myanmar, the Yeday Methodist Church serves as a gathering point for the Lahu tribal people who live here.
Waymark Code: WMGG2F
Location: Thailand
Date Posted: 03/01/2013
Views: 3
This was a very newly built church building at the time of this visit in February 2013. Previously this congregation had worshiped in a traditional structure of bamboo, similar to all but one of the houses in this village. It draws people from many miles around along the hill villages of this area.
The building was built primarily through the support of the Chungjoo Yeonsoo Methodist Church in Korea. It is made of concrete blocks with a metal roof.
The Lahu people from southern China experience mass conversions to Christianity from their animistic beliefs in the 1930s, and it is estimated that about 30% of the Lahus now adhere to the Christian faith. Many Lahu immigrated to norther Thailand during WWII and have made these mountains their home. The villages are accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles and motor bikes as most of the roads are unpaved and very steep, turning to slick mud during the rains.